Sexting and youth: achieving a rational response.

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Sexting and youth: achieving a rational response.

INTRODUCTION

Among teens, the sexting phenomenon appears to be the result of a combination of factors: digital imaging technology that can easily capture and send images, impulsivity, raging hormones, peer or partner pressure and teen's biological incapability of effectively predicting the potential negative harmful consequences of their actions.

However, a November 2009 article on the AARP web site, entitled C*U*2nite: Sexting not Just for Kids, noted (Leshnoff, 2009):

More and more of the 50 + set, both single and married, are using text messaging to spice up their sex lives. Boomers, often sandwiched between teenagers, aging parents and busy work schedules, are taking advantage of the new technology because it's fast, easy and fun Given this apparent cross generational adoption of this behavior, there are clear indicators that this behavior should be considered within the range of normative human sexual behavior. This being said, there are significantly greater risks when teens engage in this behavior. The risks are associated with the mercurial nature of their personal relationships, the fact that teens can more easily be persuaded to provide such images, the degree to which these images can become widely disseminated and the resulting damage to the reputation of the person and the potential that these images can place young people at greater risk of exploitation.

Research insight: Three recent studies have outlined this new phenomenon.

Sex and tech: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl.com commissioned a 2008 survey of teens and young adults to explore electronic activity (http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/sextech/). The Sex and Tech survey of young people ages 13-26 found:

* A significant number of teens (ages 13-19) have electronically sent or posted online, nude or semi-nude pictures or video of themselves. 20% of teens overall, 22% of teen girls, 18% of teen boys and 11% of young teen girls (ages 13-16)

* Sending and posting nude or semi-nude photos or videos becomes even more frequent as teens become young adults (ages 20-26). 33% of young adults overall, 36% of young adult women and 31% of young adult men

* Sexually suggestive messages (text, email, IM) are even more prevalent than sexually suggestive images and involvement also increases with age. 39% of all teens, 37% of teen girls, 40% of teen boys and 48% of teens say they have received such messages. 59% of all young adults, 56% of young adult women, 62% of young adult men and 64% of young adults say they have received such messages

* The images are frequently being sent in the contest of personal relationships. 71% of teen girls and 67% of teen guys who have sent or posted sexually suggestive content say they have sent/posted this content to a boyfriend/girlfriend. 21% of teen girls and 39% of teen boys say they have sent such content to someone they wanted to date or hook up with.15% of teens who have sent or posted nude/semi-nude images of themselves say they have done so to someone they only knew online

* The images are frequently shared beyond the original recipient. 36% of teen girls and 39% of teen boys say it is common for nude or semi-nude photos to get shared with people other than the intended recipient

* Pressure from partners or peers is clearly a factor-especially for the teen population. 47% of teens (38% of young adults) say "pressure from guys" is a reason girl and women send and post sexually suggestive messages and images. About 24% of teens (20% young adults) say "pressure from friends" is a reason guys send and post sexually suggestive messages and images

Digital abuse survey: The MTV-associated press poll digital abuse survey, released in 2009 found (http://www.athinline.org/about Scan down the page to find the links to the reports):

* 24% of 14-17 year olds reported some involvement in sexting, either sending or receiving. 33% of 18-24 year olds had some engagement

* 10% of 14-24 year olds have sent a sexual image. Unfortunately, this data was not broken down into teen and young adult populations

* Most sent the image to a significant other or romantic interest. But 24% sent the image to someone they wanted to hook up with and 29% sent the image to someone they only knew online. Again, this data was not broken down into teen and young adult populations

* Of significant concern, 61% of those who sent an image said they had been pressured by someone else to do so. This data was not reported based on gender

Teens and sexting: In a national survey of teens ages 12-17 that uses cell phones, the Pew Internet and American Life ...

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